Macbeth social and cultural context

Elizabethans believed that God set out an order to everything in the universe. What was this called?

• The Great Chain of Greatness

• The Chain of Great Beings

• The Great Chain of Being

• The Great Being of Chains

What was at the top of this order and what was at the bottom?

• God was found at the top of the Great Chain middle.

• Rocks/minerals at the bottom.

• Humans were placed near the middle.

• It was a bug bunch of nonsense

What did Elizabethans believe would happen if this order was ever disrupted?

• All of nature would be thrown into chaos.

• Top becomes the bottom

• Night becomes day, day becomes night

• Hot is cold and cold is hot

Who was the king of England when Shakespeare wrote ‘Macbeth’?

• James VIth of Scotland

• James Ist of England

• Queen Elizabeth Ist

• God

Those suspected of having dealings with supernatural spirits were condemned to what?

• Hanging

• Burning

• Drowning

• Tickled to death

What were witches said to be capable of?

• Many believed witches could see into the future.

• They could create hail, storms and thunder.

• Turn night into day, day into night.

• Cause the death of their enemies and turn invisible.

What does the word ‘patriarchal’ mean?

• Society ruled and controleld by men

• Society debated by everyone

• Society that was equal and fair

• Society that though women should be heard

What role did women play in Shakespeare’s society?

• Women could work in domestic spheres (cooks/maids)

• Could also write (mainly religious works)

• Sit looking pretty

• Wander about the castle looking artistic